Marjolein Robertson for Take Me Out (Girls)

Hiyi

So I've been absent (start of every blog post I write ever) for a while.

I've been meaning to get back to Blogging to write to you all about the most amazing two months I had in Australia and New Zealand, playing in the Tattoo, travelling solo, meeting old friends and family and making new ones and seeing and experiencing some of the most gorgeous nature I could ever imagine. I thought I'll write about it to you all in a series of posts, detailing a different chapter of my travels each time.

But instead tonight I'm just going to share with you my email from that time I got drunk and applied to Take Me Out.

Home Sweet Homeless

I wasn't too sure how to write this blog post. Every time I start a new draft of the following news then I make light of it straight away, obvious defence mechanism, but I think I may be too emotionally 'invested' in this situation to talk about it in a wholly whimsical manner.

To sum it up in, almost, one. I am back to the same state of affairs as Jess from the beginning of season 2 of New Girl.

And now without a house.

I can't work out whether I'm being too light or too downtrodden about the whole thing, so maybe I am borderline both about it.

Basically, whilst visiting family for the weekend we were notified we had to leave our current flat. Luckily, as of the 1st of November we have a house ready to rent and we have a friend we are living with now, so really the situation is far from terrible. To be honest, staying with our friend is really nice, and our other friend, who is moving with us too, is also homeless as of today so it's like having a big fun sleepover, with the boys. Not in that way.

Then the job front. An unfair dismissal you may call it, but as things are still ongoing there I don't want to delve into it, but when you are no longer given shifts as you won't work for less than minimum wage, I would call that unfair dismissal.

To say what probably everyone before me has said ever: No one tells you how hard it's going to be when  you move to a new country.

Actually what I should say is: I don't think i listened when everyone told me how hard it was going to be.

Don't think that I expected it to be a breeze, to be settled straightaway, have a job the first day, find a group of friends and set up the Dutch Maddrim 'Daddrim' (needs new name). I'm sure there has been worse situations for others, I'm blessed with our friends who look after us, being here with Hayden and having the internet for never ending distractions, entertainment, online Dutch lessons, information about jobs and Bejewelled Blitz.

What I am going to do when I feel my life is in a more organised, coherent and housed is write a guide for expats, a guide to knowing your rights and making sure you are ready to work and live and demand rights. Don't ever be afraid to ask for what you are legally obliged. Or I suppose what you want in general. As Mam Robertson says:

"If you don't ask you'll never get."

Thanks Charlotte.

I think now a lot about those people who find thousands of misplaced pounds gifted to their bank accounts because of some technical error by some multimillionaire company. A friend told me about that last night. That is my new dream in life, to be the person, not the company.

Thank you blog, writing this post is making me feel better, I forgot how therapeutic this is.

So let's go to the lighter new of fun things that have been going on in the Netherlands and television and past television I've only just started watching (obviously Firefly). Our friend Rodrigo is coming to stay tomorrow (from when we have a house, good timing). To that will be good having a friend with us, also he just told me he's bringing his super nice camera, I have already written to short film scripts. They will be coming your way soon.

I almost forgot: HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

(This blog post was started yesterday)

Here is a picture I have been working on that sums up all the various parts of Halloween:

That is a bag of bones I excavated. Animal bones.

So in news about tv and film: I have finished series one of Orange Is The New Black, if you haven't seen it, watch it, it's a Netflix series, but I'm sure you can just view it anywhere online, the wonders of internet. Then I have been trying to catch up with True Blood, I'm still on series four, and, like with every series, I forget how weird and disturbing it can get. There's always a point in True Blood when I wonder if I can watch the whole series, and, only half way through, I have hit that point three times.

Now an even older series I have finally started watching: Firefly

Oh Josh Whedon, you are so great. 

I tried to explain Firefly to Hayden, but, I've never been very good at explaining things, like when I wanted to show Dirk 'Children of Men' and said "It's about a women who can't have babies". Which is stupid, and in fact, kind of the exact opposite of what that film is really about. So, Firefly, when I was explaining it to Hayden I told him it is about 'Space Cowboys'. Contest if you like, and Hayden laughed for about 10 minutes, but I really think that is a good description.

Anyone who likes their sci-fi series, flying through space, discovering strange new planets with a massive dollop of western essence, then watch this. Also, as it is a Whedon series you can expect all the main characters to be well rounded and likeable. I think his strong characters are one of his best traits, especially the nice strong female roles.

I've only watched the first four episodes, so I don't have too much to offer, let me try:

Episode 1: the pilot is great and packed full of information and action, extra long, almost feels like a film but never feels like it has been drawn out unecassarily
Episode 2: I forgot
Episode 3: The third episode is really scary (good for tonight).
Episode 4: Not my favourite for storyline, but perhaps my favourite so far for humour.

Generally the story telling is one of the strongest parts, there is a lot of history to each of the characters and it the world they live in, this is revealed gradually through each episode with clever storytelling and dialogue.

Reapers.

Yes, go watch Firefly and lament too that there will only ever be one series of the show. Stupid Fox. I hope you enjoy it, I do, I especially appreciate all the shots of the ships flying through space  WITH NO SOUND EFFECTS. Because in space there is no sound. Josh Whedon, just look at the man and you can see all his brains. Literally.

Anyway, speaking of space. We're about to go and watch Gravity in an Imax. Excitement levels are high. Then we're going to come home and watch Practical Magic, it is Halloween after all and the stars kindly made an appearance in this post. After describing the film the boys are expecting it to be a scary and spooky film about witchcraft. I'm going to end up watching this film alone...

Dutch, Work, Metal, Rent.

Speed blogging here as I sit in a cafe with laptop battery draining dangerously fast at an already frighteningly low level.

ACERS.

Yeah I had it plugged in earlier but this man has asked to use the plug and I said it was fine because my laptop was almost full. That was hours ago. His must be charged by now, but then, I paid for my drinks a long time ago, so in all senses it's time to move on. And then, just before packing up, I immediately chose to write a blog post. hashtagwhatamilike?

My life the past week and a half has been work. I got a part time job, so I'm working full time and by that I mean all the time. 4 days in on the job and every other waitress is away for various reasons. It was full on. Tiring. Double shifts. Eczema city on my hands. However some of the girls are back now and I'm back to part time. Living the dream. This was the dream, first couple of months in The Netherlands I wanted to get a job where I have time to explore and learn more about the city, then learn some actual Dutch. Goededag!

You can get a job in a cafe/restaurant/fast food chain I think quite easily, in the city centre especially when speaking only English. However they really want to encourage a greater use of Dutch, so to climb any career ladder a knowledge of the language is a necessity. Which is a good thing, it's driving my learning. my reading of this bad boy:

He gets to go everywhere with me. Everywhere.

The other day while walking to work (my chain had fallen off my bike) I decided to walk and read. Read Hugo's Dutch in three months book. Being so used to my normal cycle to work it was only after being tooted at by mopeds I realised I was walking on the cycle path while reading. hashtagwhatanuttern00b

I wish I had more exciting stories for you all. But I have been working so much I literally have been dreaming about stacking saucers. To give you an idea I had work shifts that go like this:

Saturday: 11 hours
Sunday: 6 hours
Monday: 9 and a half hours
Tuesday: 9 and a half  hours
Wednesday: 8 hours
Thursday: 9 hours

So I've been doing a lot of working, then sleeping. Although Hayden and I started watching Orange Is The New Black. I had forgotten how good it is to get a brand new, juicy series to get your teeth into. Also we're savouring the programme, watching one episode every few days. That feels like a practice of the past, archaic viewing with such strong self (the opposite of the following word) indulgence.

I think I need to get my brain back into writing again. And by writing I mean general thinking. It is funny how being tired knocks you to silly.


Battery too low. Have to find another cafe to plug into power source.

I am now blogging to you from my second home in Amsterdam... I give to you:

Beautiful...  heel mooi

Yes, thanks to Hayden I found a metal pub in Amsterdam. Pretty sure at the moment this is the only metal pub in Amsterdam, and I hope to be proved wrong on that. Not because there's anything lacking here. Just because I really like the idea of a thriving metal community. To be honest, on the surface I haven't encountered that much metal. But time and enthusiasm will tell. Metallica's Through The Never is premiering here tomorrow. When I find out my shifts I'll hopefully be able to book to go to a viewing. I'm really hoping Lars and Kirk are going to come to Amsterdam as part of their Europe tour but I've found no information so far.

More on Excalibur. It is awesome. I was just busy cycling to a different cafe to find a plug and a cup of tea when I heard Megadeth's 'Symphony of Destruction' so I locked up my bike and headed  straight in. Right now we have ACDCs 'T.N.T' playing. It's the happiest drinking hole in the city.


Look at the decor:

Yes that is a dragon. Yes you can buy a tshirt.

It's also just so refreshing to sit somewhere and have a constant stream of good metal in your ears.

I should have said, in actuality, when cycling from the first cafe I was looking for ABN Amro bank to set up a bank account. The Netherlands is very strict. We all have this super relaxed image of the country, yeah a lot of that is true, lots of people are laid back, friendly, lenient laws on various past times.

But when it comes to being a Dutch citizen, you have to register, have to (by law) get your own health care insurance, can only set up a bank account with your citizen number and work contract. Perhaps this is mandatory everywhere and it's just the first time I've encountered it, but yeah, it feels like the hoops of bureaucracy are before me and I must jump. Or, like in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone for PlayStation one, fly through.

For once, I decided to give an image for my reference.
Not because it's necessary, but because I like the way
the health is shown in his lighting bolt scar.
SPOILERS: Basically Voldy's health.
Didn't think that one through did you PlayStation?

Almost a year ago, I was sitting at Cara's editing one of Maddrim's many Halloween films (they will be released... one day) and she put RENT on. I didn't really want to watch it I had heard it was sad and I wasn't interested in such a film. Also, side note, at the time, I had no idea Team America's 'Lease' was a parody; boy was that an eye opener on the background of that joke. I just thought they had gone to town with jokes on aids. To be brutally honest, I only realised last month, that that was a parody on Rent.

For anyone who doesn't know Rent  "is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson^[1] based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème." Thanks Wikipedia. 

However, as Cara and Joe watched the film and I started to procrastinate from editing I was drawn into the operatic rock beats of their 90s New York. I began my infatuation with Rent.

The more I watch it/listen to the songs on Aly's spotify the more I love it. It's really great, the whole bohemian life, although inflicted with disease/poverty/inability to write one glorious song. I said to Cara we should move to New York and live a similar lifestyle (without all the bad bits, I hope). 

Now Hayden and I are in Amsterdam, a city of laid back lifestyles and plenty of jazz, and I am craving...

WAIT. QUICK NOTE:

Megadeth's 'Symphony Of Destruction' is on again. I think this must be their Wednesday afternoon playlist on repeat. Can't wait for some more Turbonegro's 'All My Friends Are Dead' again.







Back to Rent:







Craving some structure, is structure the right word? Maybe I need more time off work to think. But yes, I can't wait to have a Dutch bank account, I can't wait to have health insurance. Coming here I've realised I'm the type of person who likes to have work, accounts, to be settled. I'd be a terrible bohemian. I suppose there's always Joanne, she's a lawyer.

I think this is a conclusion now, this blog has been everywhere, if this blog post were a buzzfeed post there would be no classification, well, perhaps WTF.


To give you a conclusion: I am happy to be registered and on my way to settling in officially and now, with less shifts and that means I can party more. I got both worlds. Thanks Hannah Montana, all my wishes Miley Cyrus. You'll get back to the best in no time.

I'm a waitress

Thanks to:
www.ica.org.uk 
www.holisticpage.com.au
rentheadsunite.tumblr.com
rentconfessions.tumblr.com
www.telegraph.co.uk
blood-diaries.tumblr.com
Wikipedia (always)

Don't watch Kick-Ass 2

SPOILERS, SPOILERS EVERYWHERE

So I was going to write a review of Kick-Ass 2. I was going to write this weeks ago, still weeks after it had been out in cinemas. However what with the move and my procrastination and that I never got round to it till now.

Now I find myself struggling to remember all the finer points. I guess this is why reviews are written so quickly. Well, there are many points I discussed with Cara after seeing the film that stick out like sore thumbs for me, sore because they are a blot of ink on the Kick-Ass franchise.

I say franchise, however I haven't read the comics. Something I hadn't really thought of doing, then I heard about some of the discrepancies between the comic and the latest film, now I really don't want to read the comic. More on that, later.

To be honest, really honest, because the way I'm about to write about the film for the rest of this post, I kind of don't want to admit this; when I first saw the film and the end credits started I felt like I'd finally seen a super movie sequel that got it right.

This is because there are so many super hero sequels that go through the exact same motions:
Superhero is superhero
Superhero has self doubt
Superhero loses/removes identity
Superhero's now normal life is threatened/has been hurt by enemy
Superhero regains  identity and brings it

When thinking of Hit Girl, yes, she finds some of the parts of being a teenager and having a social life she had never indulged in before, alright Union J, you can leave the screen now and go back to being background sound. Then she embraces this American High School dream, is date-ditched, then in her own time comes back to being Hit Girl. Wait, that is the formula.

Also, I wanted her to get back at the Queen B and her cronies with something more intelligent than making themselves void their bodies of pretty much everything. I know it just demonstrates the way Hit Girl does not give a shit. But Hit Girl knows how to be discreet. What the hell was that? It just made me feel sick.

Let's look at Kick-Ass himself now, yeah, he just got dumped by Katie and doesn't even seem to care. What is this? Their relationship was so carefully worked on in the first film, well I thought so anyway. The sequel was just making me nostalgic for the 2010 release, where it was charming, a bit off the wall and seemingly kept things quite real. In this film Red Mist - now under the alias of 'Mother F*cker' kills his own mother** in their first scene together, albeit by accident, but still, it's done and they move on.


And this is where I turn into a hypocrite.


Because I complain at the lack of emotion when it comes to Kick-Ass and Chris D'Amico in terms of losing his girlfriend and mother. However, elsewhere, the film is plastered with emotional pep talks between Hit Girl and Kick Ass, that bloody theme, the one when they get soppy, it's probably played the most in the film. It was once inspiring. And it completely takes away from the scenes where generally horrific things do happen. When Kick-Ass loses his father. He's lost his whole family. This is skirted over I feel so quickly, and due to all the emotional baggage elsewhere, in the will-they-won't-they-be-superheros-again, it's almost lost, apart form the fact his Dad is the sweetest character, which helps it to carry weight. I just feel the film makers really need to look at the set up from the first film, what would be upsetting to the characters. Hell yes Kick-Ass cared for Katie and completely undoubtedly Kick-Ass loves his father. These are the driving emotional forces, forget about a few of the pep talks. Why would Hit Girl even bother with all that talking?


Quickly now: lots of the fights scenes were great fun to watch and I really liked Jim Carrey's portrayal of Colonel Stars and Stripes.


There was also one gag that stood out for me due to it's utterly distasteful 'humour'. I should mention again, I haven't read the comics, so I am not looking at this from the perspective of what was kept in and what was written for the film. In the film itself, the scene where Mother-F*cker and one of his cronies get into Night Bitches' house and he attempts to rape her but, after a visual gag of him from behind attempting to 'ready' himself, can't quite pull it through. First of all, before even going into why this is offensive - we've already had that visual gag when Kick-Ass is trying to fix the zip on his costume. There is no need for the second time. Then, there is no need for this scene. It was awful, especially when trying to make it humorous. I read that they decided to alter it drastically from the comic to keep in tone with the movie, yet this use of humour is cheap, degrading and worrying, quite a few people laughed at it in the screen I was in. I feel it would be best if they had kept out that entire scene in her house - they didn't approach it in a way that reflects how awful it is, especially not when it's used for a gag.

I want to stop here. I could go on, rant more, list more things I didn't like about the film. I should probably summarise with this:

For me, Kick-Ass 1 is a great film, it explores a more plausible world for superheroes to grow in than other films, it has a grittiness to it, the pain, the loss's. However it also carries a charm that keeps you watching and warming to the various characters. It also successfully chooses when to be emotional, and those poignant moments really drive home the desperate situation the characters are in.

Kick-Ass 2 takes the success of the first film and just runs off in the wrong direction, with cheap homages to it's predecessor, such as Mindy making hot chocolates for her Dad; taking a melancholic shot from the first film and, in doing so, taking away from the sadness and dampening the character of Hit Girl (who would've considered that a waste of time I reckon). It also refuses to develop new characters. We all got excited when we saw Turk appeared as Dr. Gravity, however it would have been nice to learn more about him, see his character arc, instead of just some new metal spikes for his bat.



This is turning into another rant, let me summarise this much more quickly:

If you haven't already seen Kick-Ass 2 then don't. The first one's awesome though, watch that one.



In other hot off the press news, Hayden reviewed Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines:

"It's just a lot of women walking around naked while men keep singing 'blurred lines'."

More old new reviews coming, in a long time away.


CHEERIO


Thanks to:
http://collider.com/kick-ass-2-sequel-posters/
http://swishost.com/


** Was that his mother? Or was it one of Friends' cast off Janets with a severe alcohol problem and amazing ability to explain to her son their current situation so clearly that any passing stranger, like say, if Franklin was successfully creeping round their house, could catch up on the past three years of their lives. I don't know, maybe I should watch both again to compare his mother in the films, but right now in the first one in my memory she's like Charlotte from Sex and the City, then the second she's all of a sudden turned into Widow Twanky. Is true.


P.S I'm working a job now that is part time, and by part time I mean full time and by full time I mean all the time. But I'm still going to try and blog at least fortnightly, I will try my best, I promise, unlike Universal Pictures and Marv Studios. AND I'M DONE.

Everything on Blogger is now Dutch

So remember last time I blogged and told you I was going to share more about myself and what I actually do. Well, let's dive head first into this next blog post with some real news about myself and boyfriend Hayden. We are now living in Amsterdam! (hence Blogger automatically turning everything Dutch).

My options are now called 'Opties'.

Yes, we packed up and left Shetland on Monday 16th. A few days into living in Amsterdam and I think I'm settling in comfortably, I bought a bike (bike seat isn't comfortable - Lars, my Swedish DJ flatmate told me it takes about a week for the pain to subside, then you can cycle in ease all the time). I've unpacked and settled into the flat. Also started working out how to register, get a job, bank account, choose life.

I get you Jess

I've never really been unemployed or not studying since I was 15, it feels like I have all the time in the world, and it makes me feel really, really sleepy. I know it's only been a couple of days, I don't want to exaggerate, I suppose the overall feeling is that I don't know exactly when I'll be working again. So, in the midst of applying for forms and that I thought this would be a great time to write a blog. I'm excited to live here, although I will miss family, friends, Shetland, also not to forget the Heavy Metal Buffet and Maddrim (which I will still be working with both while away!) However, since coming here in my childhood for the Summer, it does feel like a home already. And then, Amsterdam blessed me with a surprise visitor, check out this great photo:

SNES and ladybirds - the very embodiment of the Netherlands

Also, what with the internet and it's friendly attributes like Skype I can still talk to my friends. Like Lizzy and Ewan:

It's cool, I don't think they read this blog. They'll never know.

I'm going to keep this blog post short. Mainly because I am about to write one up all about my thoughts on Kick-Ass 2, a review if you will, but before that I wanted to post you some news from my move, and a big HIYI to all, and CHEERIO I suppose.

In a few final notes. Remember that 24 hour film Maddrim made for Screenplay, probably some of the most fun, although very tiring, I've had since Up Helly Aa. That kind of never ending hellery.

See blog post:
Accelerator Cables? Where we're going we don't need accelerator cables..

Here is our 24 hour film Small Steps:

Finally, before leaving Shetland, amidst all the packing, goodbyes, wedding and blues (festival) we had a grand old session in the basement recording a four part series of buffet episodes with a live studio audience. This was a great send off and I'd like to thank the audience who came along and the Buffet Team, in particular Dirk, for all the work in preparing that. He is my brother and now he is your brother.

So before you leave, have a listen to the first episode in this four part-er and learn about Dirk, Jamie D's and my favourite buffet moments as well as Five Finger Death Punch's new song Battleborn and, in my opinion the greatest AC/DC song ever. Listen and find out which one it is:




Yes, I have finally learned how to properly insert soundcloud clips. Another revolutionary moment for my blog. Gifs and sounds. Together you've got a film.


CHEERIO

Coming soon: Why not to watch Kick-Ass 3


Thanks to:
http://heyitsanythingandeverything.tumblr.com/
Skype
Lars on the sage seat advice

Accelerator Cables? Where we're going we don't need accelerator cables..

You are wrong Doc.

I am writing this blog to you whilst sitting on the edge of the A970 just outside of Lerwick. Dirk, my brother, was driving us out west when all of a sudden, climbing the brae, his accelerator pedal stopped working, the wire snapped. He’s away right now, we flagged down a car, he’s getting a lift to get some parts to fix it. Meanwhile many cars have just driven on by, all kinds of vehicles, red and white and silver. 

Van

I thought, given the time spent sitting in the car before Dirk get’s back, I’d blog. I had a few plans to blog earlier this week but it has been hectic. My main aim was to get a blog post written during Screenplay’s 24 hour film challenge. In which Maddrim was given the following requests from the audience:

    Line - “a small step for man, a giant leap for mankind.”

    Prop – a beer bottle

    Setting – King Harald Street Play Park

    Character – Sensible person

We were given all this at 8pm Thursday and had to have the film ready to screen at 8.30pm the next day (before the screening of The Exorcist).

We had hashed up a plan of action, drafted a rough script, acquired specific roles, ate some Chinese takeaway and we were off.

Moving props. Picture from https://twitter.com/maddrim 

Thursday night involved filming the first half of the first section (there were three), capturing and editing, whilst others got props, wrote the next sections, storyboarded and built to small and two larger rockets.

I could go into greater detail about the filming and editing of the 24hourfilm, however that would involve way too many spoilers. All you need to know is we were up working on it till 4.30am and then we were up again the following day at 7.30. Shooting right up till tea time while Chris Halcrow was constantly capturing and editing. We had it finished around six then the lovely Simon or Ronas Media got the film onto a blue-ray for us. There were times where I thought I could blog, but then, aside from my leaving lunch with work colleagues, it was never ending, and it was great.

There was a lot of doubt around the project, and not unrightly so. Film making, in fact, just screening a film can go awry ALL THE TIME. There was also a worry ideas, plots, the actual film itself would suffer due to the time restriction in place. This could go on..

I have finally found Spaced gifs.
The enjoy-ability of this blog has increased 23 fold.

So, the film has been shown, it worked. Maybe I'm biased, but I feel it worked so well and I love the finished film so much, it is now one of my all time favourite Maddrim films.

Many thanks to all those who supported, helped and jamp into the project full of enthusiasm. You're credited on the film... which I will post it's own special blog post for once it is online for your eyes.

On a side note, I am now at home in Selivoe. The parts Dirk got to fix the car worked (washer and some nuts) and we made it back to the house by midnight, after stopping along Magnus'. So we got home 11 hours later than planned, I should also mention we were leaving Lerwick itself about 7 hours later than planned, so the car breaking down was just a part of the adventure. HOME SWEET HOME.

Now to a more personal note, I feel that I've also kept this blog on a level of noncoherent thoughts that are usually focussed on film, tv, ipods or buying bread. I never really delve much into my life, what I am doing on a more private level. Reasons for this vary through: 

-It's not interesting

-Anyone can read this blog

-I don't want to give the internet too much of my soul

-I'm terrified of conspiracy theories

-TV is the best

However, I think that giving too little information about myself make for very little context of many of the stories here. Also, I am leaving Shetland to move to Amsterdam with my boyfriend Hayden, and if I don't explain that now it's going to be confusing on this blog when all my photos of foodstuffs have name's like HAGELSLAG and APPELSTROOP, which is what I'm about to live off.

Also I think moving to a new country, finding a new job, finding new clubs to join (Dutch Maddrim?) will be interesting, and for me blogging about it will give me another way to meditate and think about how I'm settling in and a nice way to keep in touch with home. I believe blog posts are a nicer way to read what a friends been up to than a quick facebook status update. Although I've been watching Vines on Youtube lately and they are great, I need to get something to make vines on. Like an Ipod3*.

So the first foray into my life I'll tell you about Hayden without saying so much I'd want consent. He's my partner and he has just started studying at the Conservatorium Van Amsterdam on the double bass. The jazz course. He doesn't really know his internet memes, or he has a wicked sense of humour.

_____________________________________________________________________

From: Hayden Hook
Sent: 13 August 2013 12:45
To: Robertson Marjolein
Subject: Re: 

hay there no credit

but ye come over at 1:00

xxxxxxxx

______________________________________________________________________

From: Robertson Marjolein
Sent: 13 August 2013 12:50
To: Hayden Hook
Subject: Re:

Cool will do. Maybe five past one.

______________________________________________________________________

From: Hayden Hook
Sent: 13 August 2013 12:53
To: Robertson Marjolein
Subject: Re:

          thats you with straight teeth

______________________________________________________________________

She does have the most exceptional teeth.

Right, I'm off for a swim in the sea and a row. Thanks for reading everyone, just time for the goodbyes, the thankses and the asterix at the end that if you didn't scroll down for earlier I bet you forgot about till now didn't you?

Thanks to:

http://zogga-san.tumblr.com/

https://twitter.com/maddrim 

http://fuckyeahspacedgifs.tumblr.com

www.businessinsider.com  

*Note to self: Send apple the series of blog posts about rescuing my ipod from the sea and maybe they'll send me and Ipod3 and by that I mean an Iphone3. That works in Holland.

That week Dirk uploaded five buffet episodes because no one was keeping an eye on him

Hello

I hope your all well, I have RSI, so this is being typed with one hand. (You're choice to believe that previo7s statement is totally your own).

1ST FACT OF THIS BLOG POST: People who smoke E-cigarettes also smoke other people's real cigarettes for free.

The RSI is in my right hand, total bummer, so I'm doing everything with my left. I simply have to take timer off when playing Solitaire.

I have been up to many things since blogging last (2012) and am planning to do more things; but if I tell you them now and never go through with them, then this segment will be filled with lies and that's not cool. So, for now I will stick to just writing about what I've done. I've been abroad to a few countries this year: Switzerland, the Netherlands, Orkney. This has been fun, here, have some visual highlights to share on your instagram and snapchats:



Niki and I in Switzerland



Hayden drinking my Heineken in Amsterdam

5* Dune Tour in Orkney

The trip to Orkney could also be called a Crusade of the Heavy Metal Buffet, or Conquest with friends Ten Tonne Dozer, Chrst Alive and Beef Cleaver. The Heavy Metal Buffet and the three bands headed south for a long weekend to put on gigs with local Orkney band, the cuties, called Hybrid Constellation. The reception we received in Orkney was amazing and inspiring, both as a band and as the Buffet, to continue promoting heavy metal both on the podcast and in gigs and cement a link with Orcadians and their metal bands to form a North Sea Network of Heavy Metal. Next up: Faroes - that would be awesome, just listen to Tyr.


Maddrim also collaborated with the HNC Music Course at Mareel from the University of the Highlands and Islands, along with the band Wind-Up Projectiles and a bit of the Heavy Metal Buffet. And we made this:

Ok, BBlogger is not letting me link in a youtube video

I hate you sometimes BBlogger

Here is the link instead:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdm3S8tYY_k

And now I'm going to blog about The World's End for a considerable length of time for a considerable length of blog (as in, until my left hand gets pretty tired).

Gary King (Simon Pegg) photo courtesy of collider.com

So, I was very excited to see this film, although it took me a few weeks to get to the cinema to get to see it I managed to avoid all spoilers (save someone saying this cornetto gag was the best to date) and watched the trailer only twice. Although, I would say as a golden rule: never watch a trailer more than twice. The first time you watch a trailer, especially for a film you have been lusting for ever since you've seen pre production tweets coming from those involved in the writing process. Best example was accompanied by this photo:

photo courtesy of filmschoolrejects.com

So, yes, the pre production news builds the excitement and begins expectations, what really cements them is the trailer.

The first time you watch a trailer, more than digesting the contents within it to a great extent, I just get an overall feeling of what I'll expect from the film, second time you pay close attention to characters, potential developments, relationships and memorise the gags. You'll learn too much when  you watch it a third time.

BACK TO THE WORLD'S END

START SPOILERS AND THAT

Not going to lie. When I first watched the trailer I was sorely disappointed. Mainly because it looked like a mash up of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, a mash up in the sense they had forgotten about those to previous films they made, thought of two different great ideas:
-People desperately trying to get to a pub in a Armageddon style situation
-A small outside village/town where something sinister is going on.
Then, cause they'd forgotten, they'd already made them, they merged them into a film.

This was the first time I doubted their ingenious.

The film starts brilliantly, I try not to compare things (is what I say) but I do it all the time, it reminded me of the introduction to the second series of spaced. When he reintroduces the characters of the first series to Mr Scruff's Spandex Man and they all freeze in a way that makes you think your DVD is skipping apart from the fact Simon's (or Tim's) soothing voice is still LEADING YOU ON... into the first episode. So yes the start of The World's End was done fantastically, also to music used (magic roundabout) when Daisy Steiner is way to high to get interviewed.

(P.S from here on in this blog post it is now a later date, I'm typing with both hands. Lucky you.)

Actually, this review of mine is going to turn into a very long description so I'm going to bullet points a few of the key moments in the film for me.

•  The first fight with the blanks in the pub, holy shit the fighting is well choreographed in this film. It looks real, it's satisfying and it's still great fun to watch.
• The beaufitful moments of acting that shine through, like when Peter confides in the group at the pub about meeting his old bully, or when Gary tells Andy his Mam died.
• One key moment for me, that I did not like, was when Gary tells Sam to leave, drive for freedom, and she does, only returning at the end where she makes a passing comment about getting lost on the roads. I felt this was an example of the lacking for a strong female role within this film.
• Although not a key moment, the film perfectly captured the actions and ideas of a group of old friends who are caught in an outlandish situation, trying to survive, when at the same time, continiousluy drinking and becoming ever more inebriated. This was greatly portrayed by all the actors, particularly for me, by Nick Frost, who acts drunk better than any other I've seen. It also paved the way for their mistakes, giggles and emotion filled conversations when  you take into account their levels of intoxication. 
• Another, not quite moment, but many monets, was everytime we got to see one of their friends from another show...



END OF ALL THE SPOILERS

I have to move on. Because weeks have passed since I started writing this... and now it's BUFFET WEEK:

This weekend we will be hosting a two day rock festival in Shetland. I hope to see you there. BYE.

HMB visits SIBC

Back catologue of Buffet episodes:

https://soundcloud.com/#heavymetalbuffet/buffet-62-countdown-to-buffet
https://soundcloud.com/#heavymetalbuffet/buffet-61-mars-is-back-from
https://soundcloud.com/#heavymetalbuffet/buffet-60-oxjam
https://soundcloud.com/#heavymetalbuffet/buffet-59

Picture to word ratio is good in this post.

Heavy Metal Buffet episode 21


Usually I avoid making new years resolutions for myself. I really don't want to begin a new year with added tasks in hand, like to remember to brush my teeth twice a day - which always ends up in dissapointment. Three days. I once went three days with no teeth brushing in January, after making a resolution to brush my teeth twice daily. Manky #056.

But anyway, it's not a resolution, more of a "This should have happened by now and it's really going to require one sitting, a good idea and a jpeg image."

That's right I'm finally going to personalise the design of this blog.

I can't believe this blog will be about a year and a half old and I'm still using these books as a background. Look at them, not one of them even has a title, protentious books. No offence Blogger but it's pretty shit.

Also in the vein of improving the blog. I have been spell and grammer checking these days. I really have (to an extent). Although I still miss blatant mistakes, like when I leave myself blindingly obvious notes in caplocks to insert a picture or link in. Then just skip right over it in the last read through. Here's a screen shot example of one of these incidents from last time I blogged:

So, now you're all excited bout the video again let me actually post it here:

So that was Oxjam summed up in video format. From montages to interviews to a pretty long segment when I stood between the members of Ten Tonne Dozer trying to get a good picture of what the band are like during a gig: awesome.

You'll have notice Jamie's stoic performance (he's lead guitar) and has been described as:
"the eye of the hurricane as the rest of the band thrash around around him like a wild storm."

Ten Tonne Dozer are also often described as:
"The unstoppable force meets the unmovable object"
- Dave Kok going round Jamie's for some tea and a session and aussie football. JOKES. Jamie goes round Dave's for that.

Also talking of the Heavy Metal Buffet. The ever lovely Ivan Hawick took us out on a trip to a top secret location (Shetland) and we made another Heavy Metal Buffet picture introducing my to the team. Brally cold day it was.

So continuing on that topic, tonight is the night we decorate the house, watch Elf and have a take away; and hopefully Jamie and I will finish Heavy Metal Buffet episode 22. Without having to get as drunk as we did during 21. So it's time to go and get that ready cause I've already missed Elf on channel 4, I'm hoping four has one of those pluse one channels and I can catch it in 18 minutes. Before that I've got to clean the house and wake Ashlea and decorate, I bet your glad you got to read all of that.


Well, I will probably blog again between now and 2013. I really should considering last year I wrote 13 posts in four months. This year I'm sitting pretty (shitly) at nine and currently wondering how many t's I should have used back there in those brackets.


For now have a Merry Christmas however you celebrate it, or not, whatever the case: MERRY CHRISTMAS.

http://tfwiki.net

And on a last note: Leave Bugarach alone. There's not enough room for you in that village or the spacecraft.

BBC story: Mayor of Bugarach fears large influx for 'end of the world'

Mareel, Skyfall and a bit of Heavy Metal

Hello

Before I start writing about the main reason I've started writing the post today I just want to share some news. Exciting news.

I've written on here before about the Heavy Metal Buffet, but incase I gave no context as to what it is, or you've never read it, skimmed over it, forgotten it, didn't give a damn, let me shove it right into your face for another helping of some more smorgasbord (thanks wiki).

The Heavy Metal Buffet was established by my brother Dirk and friend Jamie, back, well roughly 21 weeks ago. It is a celebration of all things metal with an emphasis on local (Shetland) bands and musicians as well as advertising local gigs.

On October 20th, this year, Shetland had it's first ever Oxjam Takeover coordinated by Ashlea Tulloch. The day consisted of four gigs around town with dozens of artists, one wristbadn could get you into all four and all money raised goes straight to Oxfam. Dirk, Jamie and myself (as a newly joined member) presented a 7 hour metal gig in Da Wheel Bar. It was as follows:

(INSERT YOUTUBE OXJAM AT DA WHEEL BAR HERE)

That's not even the exciting news.

As the Heavy Metal Buffet we had the honour and privelage to interview none other than the Anthrax bassist Mr Frank Bello. Thank you so much to Frank for giving us the time during your Worship Music tour of Britain to chat to us over Skype, and thank you to Andy for getting us into contact.

Blabbermouth link to the Heavy Metal Buffet

To be honest I was really nervous about interviewing Frank, and none of us wanted to ask any questions he gets thrown at him all the time. So we tried our best to come up with some interesting questions (again thanks to Andy for giving us the heads up about the birthday lap dance for Rob. If you're interested to learn more of this dance listen to our interview with Frank on the Buffet linked below, and why not listen to the buffet before and after)

http://soundcloud.com/heavymetalbuffet/heavy-metal-buffet-episode-20

Frank Bello and myself at Doonlod 2012

Thank you Frank and thank you Andy and also thank you Anthrax for Worship Music.
2011 was an amazing year for Metal, some awesome albums. Thank you 2011.

Enough of that.

Recently Claire, myself, Jamie and Peter started up a band: Beef Cleaver. We played at Oxjam and a gig up in the Mid Brae Inn (this time with Dwayne on drums)
We just recorded our first original song, it's on't Buffet or you can have a listen here:

Black Island - Beef Cleaver

So to the title of this blog.

Was going to write this blog post on Sunday night as soon as I'd come out of Skyfall because I was on a just seen an awesome Bond film high. Then almost a week went past and I realised how time escapes me. #willalwaysbejealousofbernard

I love the Bond films, watched them since I can't remember, but Roger Moore is my favourite.

http://www.thedailytouch.com/

I was a bit nervous about Skyfall, I suppose if there's anything you've invested your time, money and part of your soul (but not a horcrux) into you want it to be good.

It was awesome.

SPOILERS:

I suppose for me I feel the film had two main points to get across:
1) The world of espionage is not over, infact it is more important than ever.

2) Bond, this Bond, is growing from the character in the books into the suave Bond we know from earlier films. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing that Daniel Craig took Bond's character to the darker addict Flemming wrote him as, I think it was an interesting take and took Bond closer to reality after that invisible car. What I like is that through Casino Royale, Quantam of Solace and now Skyfall Bond has been broken down emotionally and physically (several times) and lost the person closest to him (I suppose twice) and was forced to evolve into, what I believe is a Bond akin to Connery's and he will be fully emerged as this incarnation in the fourth Craig film (there better be a fourth).

Highlights for me included the nods to previous films; Q's quip about "exploding pens" (Goldeneye, Boris was vincible after all) and the return of the beloved Aston Martin with the features of that from Goldfinger.

Also Moneypenny. What a way to reintroduce her, I don't know about you but I figured it was her as soon as we met her in the new headquarters. However I don't think that matters at all, I just liked that Moneypenny has proven herself as a knowledable member of the team who has worked in the field.

Also, it wasn't just the film that made me enjoy my trip to see Bond so much, niether the advert beforehand featuring every Bond ever in a car chase, or the face that Ashlea, Jamie and myself all went to the cinema in our pyjamas with a massive blankie. It was just being in Mareel itself.

I love Mareel. It's welcoming and comfortable. It's like going to a friends house, a really clean house, but not in that way it makes you feel guilty about the state of your own home. I always look forward to going there, the cinema is so comfy and the cafe is amazing, I could stay there all day everyday, anyone could.

Just ask Rodrigo.